Fur-trimming machine



June 8 1926.

F. w.- HORSTiVIANN FUR TRIMMING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1925 lfcyll 3 25 27 29 9 7 0 a INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Ill

patented June 8, ltlfitii.

FREDERICK W. HORSTMANN, OF IRVliNGTON, NEW JERSEY.

FUR-TRIMMING MACHINE.

Application filed. July 9,

This invention relates to fur-shearing machines and more particularly to an improvement in such machines whereby the fur may be more uniformly sheared or trimmed without requiring any unusual skill on the part of the operator.

Fur-shearing machines as at present designed are not entirely satisfactory in that it is not possible to shear the fur uniformly without unusual care or skill on the part of the operator. In such machines it is the practise for the operator to maintain the skin taut while being drawn and passed over the stretcher bar or apron. Obviously due to the personal factor the degree of tension applied to the skin while it is thus disposed may vary within wide limits. This results in a non-uniform shearing of the skin. Another disadvantage of the present types of fin-trimming machines is that they are not designed to permit one to quickly bring a fur or skin into cutting position without endangering the operators Fingers.

The present invention overcomes the foregoing disadvantages by providing mechanisn'i for such machines which maintains the skin in close contact with the stretcher bar and at the same time applies a uniform tension thereon, whereby it is possible to consistently obtain uniform sl'iearing of the fur without any special reliance being placed upon the operator. In addition, the present invention also provides mechanism for perinitting the positioning of the fur about the stretcher lltll and for holding the same in than contact therewith while the skin is being brought into position adjacent the cutting knives, this being accomplished without the necessity of the operator bringing his or her fingers into close proximity to the cutters.

Another disadvantage of fur-shearin; machines as at present employed is their limitation to handling skins or strips of fur of considn'able width without requiring several passes through the n'iechanisin. This disadvantage is overcome in the machine forming the subject of my invention by pro viding a combination of elements including a smoother bar which continuously stretches the skin toward. the outer-longitudinal edges thereof as the skin is being drawn over the stretcher bar by an operator.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object 1925. Serial No. 42,368.

of my invention to provide a fur-shearing machine which is adapted to cut the fur a uniform depth over substantially its entire surface without requiring any unusual skill on the part of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fur-shearing machine which is adapted to permit the presentation of a skin to the shearing knives without endangering the operators fingers.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a furshearing machine which is adapted for trimming or shearing fur of any width in a uniform manner without the necessity of passing the fur several times through the mechanism.

11 more specific object of the invention is to provide a fur-trimming machine in which is embodied a tension device for firmly curing the skin in position about the stretcher bar or apron.

Anotherspecilic objectof my invention is to provide a fur-shearing machine which is adapted to smooth the skin toward its edgesthus enabling skins of greater width to be accommodated by the machine.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent as the following detailed description is read.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fi 1 is a side elevational view of a. fur shearing machine embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a. front elevational view of the machine illustrated in Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the device for smoothing the fur toward its edges to adapt the machine for handling furs of larger sizes. v

teferring to the drawings, wherein like reference cl'ia-racters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a) designates a frame or stand which supports a motor 6 for driving the custon'iary cylinder knives 7 by means of an endless belt 8. The cylinder knives are enclosed within a housing or casing 9 open at its front and having a rear opening 10 for connection to an exhaust fan or blower, not shown, whereby the hair of the fur may be withdrawn. A bracket 11 supports the usual bed knife 19 by suitable belts or other fastening means,

said bed knife cooperating with the cylinder knives to sever and cut the hair of the skin 13 as the latter is drawn past the knives.

The frame or stand supports a horizontal shaft upon which is mounted vertical side members 15 wl 'eh may swing relative to the trame when urged forwardly by a butfer 16 which is disposed parallel to the shaft 14- and is secured to the side members 15. A pair of slotted bars 17 pivoted to the front of the frame 5 are provided with slots 18i or th-epassage of a pin 19 extending from each of the membc In addition an adjustable stop 20 limits the inward movement of the frame or members if) that support the apron or stretcher bar referred to more fully hereinafter.

The upper ends of the vertical members 15 are slotted-and slidingly support vertically adjustable arms 21 which are substantially L-shaped. The arms may be secured in any desired position of adjustment by bolts The outer ends of the arms .21 support a stretcher bar or roller 23 which is journalled in suitable hearings in said arms. The roller is of relatively small diameter, so that as the skin or fur is passed or pulled over the surface of said roller the hair will be presented to the cutting action of the knives so that an even, regular and close out may be obtained.

The foregoing structure is well known in the art and therefore requires no more detailed description. As pointed out heretofore machines of this type are not entirely satisfactory inasmuch as no mechanical means are'provided for maintaining the skin taut during the shearing operation, depend ency being placed entirely upon the operator for securing this result. In addition, such machines required the operator to hold the skin on the stretcher bar while it is being brought to position adjacent the cutters. Obviously, since it is desired to shear as much of the skin as is possible, the edge of the skin must be held by the operator as closely as possible to the edge of the stretcher bar. Unless considerable skill and care is exercised on the part of the operator considerable danger is attencant this operation even though guard rails or bars have been provided for such machines. Furthermore, with the former machines unless the 0perator pays close attention to the work the cutting of the fur is not uniform by reason of the fact that the skin is not maintained uniformly taut or ted to the cutters at the same angle.

In order to overcome the foregoing disadvantages I have provided what may be tern'ied a tensioning device which maintains the skin or fur taut and tree from slippage during the shearing or cutting operation and presents the fur at the same angle to the shearing mechanism. At th same time the tensioning device permits the skin to be brought adjacent the cutters withoutthe operators hand coming into close proximity to the cutters. Where the skin or tar is irregular or thicker in one place than in another, it is necessary that the t()HSl()!1 f means shall conform to such irrcgul without hindering or impeding the pr of the skin as it is being drawn OYLL stretcher bar or roller 23. Means are provided in the tensioning device form 1 subjectof my invention for attainin end.

The tensioning device comprises pairs of top and bottom levers 25 and 26 pivoted at 2? and 28, respectively, in the brackets which latter are supported on the top oi? the frame or stand 5. The levers 25 are bent downwardly as at 30 and journallcd in the ends thereof is a suitable roller 31 of very small diameter. The levers 1-6 are bent upwardly as at 31 and also journalled in the ends thereof is a suitable small roller :32.

The rollers 31 and 32 bear on the top and bottom, respectively, of a skin and against the upper and lower surfaces oi a smoother bar 36, thus firmly holding the skin in posi tion as it is advanced toward and drawn past the shearing or cutting mechanism. The outer ends of the levers 25 and 2 are provided with openings through which lo 1y pass threaded bolts 33 on which tensihi springs 3st are mounted, which springs maintain the rollers 31 and 32 in engagement with the skin on the apron. The rollers 31 and 32 may be adjusted toward and from each other by nuts 34 which engage the threaded ends of the bolts 33, thus permitting the space between the rollers to be adjusted and different thicknesses of skins, and permitting regulation of the degree of sion applied by the rollers 31 and 3:2 a skin. It is also apparentthat the 31 and 82 may be maintained a fixed distance apart by reason of the foregoing con struction.

To regulate the depth of cut I provide auxiliary threaded bolts 35 projecting upwardly from extensions 37 secured brackets 29. The extensions rigidly the bolts and the latter pass loose through apertures in thoarms 21 sorin being interposed between the e and the levers 25 so that by aeju. nuts 38 said levers as well as the 1 and 32 secured thereto may be rocked. on their pivots so that the rollers may be simultaneouslyinoved substantially vertically wi: 11 respect to the stretcher bar 23. The brackets 29 may be horizontally adjusted with respect to the stretcher bar by reason of bolts 29 tapped into the top of the frame, said bolts passing through slots 29 in the brackets 29. By loosening up the bolts the bracktil ets as well as the mechanism supported thereby may be shifted horizontally and by turning down upon the bolts 29 the brackets may be maintained securely in any desired position of adjustment. By reason or the foregoing adjustments, it is possible to so adjust the tensioning device with respect to the cutters so as to obtain any desired cut and at the same time proper compensation may be made for any wear that may take place in the cutting knives.

In view of the tensioning means or coil springs 34: being mounted between the ends or" the levers 25 and 26, when the stretcher bar roller 23 is moved to its extreme outer position, the rollers 31 and 32 will move relative to each other as the bar passes therebetween. As the buffer 16 is engaged and moves the stretcher bar 23 inwardly after a skin has been draped around the same the skin will be engaged by the rollers 31 and 32 with considerable tension to firmly hold the skin in position about the stretcher bar as it is brought adjacent the cutters and while the skin is being advanced past the same. The diameter of the rollers 31 and 32 and their relation to the roller is such that the same angular relation of the hairs of the skin is maintained whereby an even, regular and uniform cut is affected to produce the required work.

In order that skins of considerable width may be sheared without the necessity of passing the skins several times through the machine, I have provided what may be termed a smoother bar 36. Referring to Fig. 3, this bar comprises a flat body portion having a wedge-shaped edge 4:0. The bar is positioned between the arms 21 and firmly bolted thereto. The location of the bar with respect to the stretcher roller is such that when a skin is brought into close proximity to the cutters the longer end of the skin will hang over the wedge-shaped edge 40 of the smoother bar. As the operator takes hold of the lower or shorter end oi? the skin with his hands and draws the skin past the cutters, the skin is stretched over the. wedge-shaped edge of the smoother bar by reason of its own weight. The resultant action upon the skin is to smooth the skin outwardly from its median line toward its edges. ()bviously, in view of the presence of the smoother bar it is possible to handle skins of larger widths without the necessity or" several passes through the cutting mechanism to shear the same over its entire surface.

It is also apparent that by reason of the provision of tension rollers that it is possible to handle skins of greater width than hereto'fore, this being made possible by the smoothing action of the tension rollers upon the skins over their entire widths as well as permitting the operator to engage the lower end of the skin with both hands and exert the necessary side force to maintain the skin smooth as well as to apply a uniform force to move the. same past the cutters.

lVhile I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practise various alterations therein may be made. I therefore reserve the right and privilege of changing the form oi the details of construction or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims:

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. A fur-trimming machine comprising means for trimming fur, a stretcher bar adapted to bemoved toward and from said trimming means, and means for engaging a skin draped over said stretcher bar to main tain the skin in firm contact therewith.

2. A fur-trimming machine comprising means for trimming the fur, a stretcher bar adapted to be moved toward and from said trimming means, and means for engaging the fur side of a skin when draped over said stretcher bar to maintain the skin in firm contact therewith.

3. A fur-trimming machine comprising means for trimming fur, a stretcher bar adaptedL to be moved toward and from said trimming means, and a tensioning device cooperating with said stretcher bar for maintaining a skin taut as it is moved in proximity to said trimming means.

4. A fur-trimming machine comprising cutting mechanism, a swinging frame and an apron or stretcher bar carried thereby, and tensioning means above and below said bar for maintaining a skin taut as it is moved in proximity to said cutting Emelinnism and as it is drawn over said bar.

5. A. fur-trimming machine comprising cutting mechanism, a swinging frame and an apron or stretcher bar carried thereby, and tensioning means cooperating with said bar at a point rearwardly of its working edge for maintaining a skin taut as it is moved in proximity to said cutting mechanism.

6. A fur-trimming machine comprising cutting mechanism, a swinging frame and an apron or stretcher bar carried thereby consisting of a roller, and adjustable tensioning means cooperating with said roller at a point rearwardly of its working edge for maintaining a skin taut as it is moved over said stretcher bar.

7. In combination with the cutting mechanism of a fur-trimming machine, a swinging frame and an apron or stretcher bar carried thereby, adjustable tensioning rollers above and below said bar, said frame being movlit.)

proximity to the out 1 machine comprising a t a swinging a stretclier support, cuttin mechznisni rad itaine carried by said supper bar at the upper end o't said oi? tensioning levers pix rollers on the inner end and below said st etci s y 11 7 W means betueen san low t he rollers may be spread and L i i Ll there by en age said stretcher bar to ma ntaiu a shin tautas 1tis advanced in proximity to the cutting mechanism.

10. A tur-triunning machine coin )il upport, cutting mechanism, and it rried. by said support,

stably supporting a. stretcher bar at upper one l said frame, a stre cher be ported by said means levers pivot-ally mounted on said support tensioning rolier on the ends of said levers above and t said stretcher bar, L

evers whereby they may oe mov d reiative 1 1 1 to each other and means for adji sti SEtlLl levers as a unit YLIt-ICttlly with respect to said st *tcher bar.

11. A furdriinming machine compr support, cutting mechanism and 2 so rame carries by said support a var at the upper end of said o't tensioning levers pivoted on- 1' ends of saii rollers on the inne and below said stretcher bar, resilient means between said levers, and u'ieans or ad usting said rollers toward and from each other.

12. A fur-trimming machine comprising a support, cutting mechanism and a surging trame car'ied by said supporh a stretcher bar at the upper end of said frame, a pair of tensioningz; tern-s pivoted on the support, rollers on the inner ends of said lev rs ah-ore and below said stretcher bar, and means for adjusting said rollers as a unit horizontally With respect to said stretcher bar.

13. A fur-trimming machine comprising a support, cutting mecl anism and a swinging frame carried by said support, means for adjustahly supporting a stretcher bar or apron at the upper endof said frame, a stretcher bar supported by said n'ieans levers pivotally mounted on said support, tensioning rollers on the ends of said levers above and below said stretcher bar, resilient means tor said levers whereby they may be moved relative to each other, and means for adjusting said rollers with respect to each other and vertically and horizontally with respect to said stretcher bar.

ll. A 'liur-trimming machine comprising means for trimming the fur, a. strctcherlnir adapted to be moved toward and from said trimmin means, and means for engaging a skin as it is moved toi'ard said trinuning means to securely hold the skin in position about said stretcher bar as the latter is brought into close proximity to said trimmeans 'u'ithout the necessity of the tor holding the skin about said her bar, whereby danger to the openr avoided.v 15. A fur-trimming machine comprising ans for trimming the fur, a stretcher bar apte to be moved "on'ard and from said mn'iing means, and means for smoothing a skin towards its as the shin drawn over said tretcher bar.

16. A tr r-trimn'iing machine comprising means for trimming the t'ur, a stretcher bar, means cooperating with said stretcher bar for n'iaintan'iing a skin taut about said c ns for smoo'hii a retcher bar, and in a 'n toward its long'i idinal edges as the {in is drawn over said stretcher bar.

17. A fur-trimming machine comprising a support, cutting mechanism and a swinging fie-d ther by, a stretcher lar on eaiC i'noother her 1150 mounted in n E 1nd deposed .idiaient said it l 121 applying tension LO a Still]. disposed about d stretcher bar and. having its longer end ,ng over said smoother bar, whereby 1 skin may be maintained taut. over said stretcher bar and smoothed toward its edges as it is drawn over said bar.

imoi whcreoi I till; my signature.

in test H31? 5 TELLS 

